Movistar Yamaha Press Release:
With just a couple of days rest following the Texas Grand Prix last weekend, the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team were back on track today for the first practice session of this weekend‘s GP de la República Argentina.
The first morning session at the Autòdromo Termas de Río Hondo was taken gently by riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, the two testing the grip levels as the premier class group added fresh rubber to the slippery circuit. Rossi completed the first free practice session in 14th and teammate Lorenzo in 20th.
The second session saw light rain in the opening minutes, but the drama was short lived and the track quickly dried. The two Yamaha Factory riders gradually picked up their pace, taking over four seconds off their FP1 times as the grip levels rose. The improvements continued lap by lap to end with Lorenzo in sixth, 0.687 from the top and Rossi in ninth, 1.171 from first.
Jorge Lorenzo #99:
6th / 1’39.463 / 18 laps
“The grip obviously improved from the first practice to the second and I felt really good with the hard tire. We put a soft tire in to improve the lap time towards the end and we were able to do it. Apart from Alex Espargarò with the extra soft tire we are very close to the rest so let‘s see for tomorrow. There‘s going to be less of a difference than between today‘s sessions but there should be a positive improvement and the rear tire should last longer. I have a good feeling for the hard tire so we need to find a good set up for the soft too.”
Valentino Rossi #46:
9th / 1’39.947 / 18 laps
“In the second practice the condition of the track improved a lot and already the lap time is very competitive. The big issue is the tires, we have to decide on the rear and also the front. The first impression of the bike is not so bad although we have to work on the balance and the settings. The position is not fantastic but we are not very far from the top guys so tomorrow we will try to improve the feeling with the bike and also the lap time.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director:
“This morning‘s practice was mostly about the riders putting rubber on the track. During the second session we did enough hard work for today. Very importantly we were able to compare the extra hard and the medium tires for the race. For sure we will get some more precise feedback tomorrow when the circuit will be in a better condition but so far we are satisfied with our results. Jorge has been consistently fast and Vale was able to climb up the time sheets whilst switching between different bike set ups. Tomorrow we will prepare new steps for FP3 and I am confident that we will be at the sharp end of the field for qualifying and be ready for a good race.”
COMBINED FREE PRACTICE RESULTS:
1. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Team Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP 1’38.776
2. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Ducati Team 1’39.311
3. Marc Marquez (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’39.336
4. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) CWM LCR Honda 1’39.403
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati Team 1’39.434
6. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’39.463
7. Pol Espargarò (SPA) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1’39.648
8. Scott Redding (GBR) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS 1’39.892
9. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’39.947
10. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Pramac Racing 1’40.088
11. Maverick Viñales (SPA) Team Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP 1’40.126
12. Bradley Smith (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1’40.195
13. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Pramac Racing 1’40.438
14. Nicky Hayden (USA) Aspar Team MotoGP 1’40.522
15. Karel Abraham (CZE) AB Motoracing 1’40.586
16. Hector Barbera (SPA) Avintia Racing 1’40.626
17. Stefan Bradl (GER) Forward Racing 1’40.672
18. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aspar Team MotoGP 1’40.846
19. Jack Miller (AUS) CWM LCR Honda 1’40.864
20. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Octo IodaRacing Team 1’41.152
21. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Repsol Honda Team 1’41.380
22. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’41.490
23. Mike Di Meglio (FRA) Avintia Racing 1’41.531
24. Marco Melandri (ITA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’41.576
25. Loris Baz (FRA) Forward Racing 1’41.784
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